Self-heating soldering-iron



(No Model.)

' C. LEHMANN 8v E.'BRUNHOFF.

SELF HEATING SOLDBRING IRON. I No. 448,055. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

UNITED STATES" PTENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEHHANN AND EDVARD BRUNHCFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-HEATING SOLDERlNVG-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,055, dated March 10, 1,891.

n Application filed June 9, 1890. Serial No. 354,730. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

13e it known that we,CHARLEs LEHMANN and EDWARD BRUNHQFF, subjects of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Self-Heating Soldering-Irons, which are fully set forth in the following speci fication, reference being being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lv represents a side elevation of a soldering-iron embodying our invention, the handle being partly broken away on one side thereof; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the lower part of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a plan section of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a similar plan section taken on the line el 4. of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 also a similar plan section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Our invention relates to that class of soldering-irons usually termed self-heating, and more particularly to such irons of this class as are kept hot while in use by the combustion within them of oil, gas, or other suitable fuel. o

The object of our invention is to produce an iron of this description which is adapted to the use of gasoline or any other similar liquid fuel by converting it into a gas which is burned in the interior of the head of the solering-iron, our improvementsbein g intended to completely vaporize the liquid and thoroughly mix it with sufficient air for proper combustion, and also to make the tube perfectly safe for ordinary use.

We will now describe in detail the construction and operation of a soldering-iron in which we have practically embodied our invention, and will then point out more definitely in the claims the particular improvements which we believe to be new and wish to secure by Letters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents the handle of the tool, which also constitutes a reservoir for the gasoline or other liquid fuel. This handle consists of two pa1ts-=na1nely, a tube a,

of thin metal, open at each end, and a covering or wrapping o', of any suitable material which is a good nonconductor of heat. It maybe iiax, asbestus, wood, or any other good non-conducting substance. rllhis covering surrounds the tube and extends its Whole length, except a short section atitsinner end,

which is externally threaded, as seen in Fig. 5 5

2. 4The outer end of the tube is internally threaded, as seen in Fig. l, whereby it is adapted to receive acapor cover B, which is threaded to t this end of the tube and close it. This cap is cup-shaped and provided with a narrow lateral flange b, which fits over the ends of the tube and its outer covering when the cap is screwed down in place, as seen in Fig. 1. The cap also has a central aperture b to permit the filling of the reservoir, and this aperture is threaded and closed by a suitable thumb-screw b2. The body C of the tool is adapted for the attachment of this handle. This body or central part of the tool is cylindrical, having one portion e of a diameter but little less than that of the handle, while at the other endit is diminished in size to form a neck c, which at its extremity is made iiaring to correspond in size with the tube a, to which itis attachedby means of an internal thread corresponding to the external thread on the projecting end of t-he tube, as seen in Fig. 2. Both these sections of the tube are hollow, but they are separated by a solid bridge o2 about midway ofthe body.

The hollow vsection e forms a combustion` with the lower chamber through both the ap-y ertures c3 and the longitudinal slots c4.

The gas-generator or the device for c onverting the liquid fuel into` gas is arranged within the lower chamber c. It consists of a small tube D, bent into U form and.: having both ends open. One end of this tube is connected to the lower end of a small passage d, which is drilled through the bridge c2 between the twoY chambers, so that connection is thus established between the tube and the fuelreservoir by means of this hole, which forms an inlet-passage. The other endof the tube is connected to the lower or outer end of a similar small passage d', drilled directly into the bridge c2 on the side next to the lower chamber. A regulating-screw E is inserted in the side of the solid central portion of the body, the latter being drilled from the outside opposite to the inlet-passage d, so as to form an aperture e, extending inward and downward slightly and crossing the passage d at its extreme inner end and extending inward therefrom to about the center of the bridge, as seen in Fig. 2. This aperture c is threaded, so as to receive the screw E, and the latterterminates in a conical point, just behind which thereis ashallow annular groove e', by which construction the screwis adapted l to either partly or entirelyclose the connection between these two passages or fully open it, as desired. A small gas tip or nippleF is fixed in the inner side of the solid bridge c2, which Y is provided with a shallow central socket f for this purpose, the socket and nipple both being threaded to fix the latter in position. There is nothing peculiar about the construction of the nipple, and it is provided with the usual central perforation f', constricted at the extremity of the tip. A short passage or conduit f2 connects this nipple with the inner end of the passage e, as seen in Fig. 2, so that there is thus provided an outlet for the tube D by means of the passage-ways d e f2 and the nipple F, the latter having its outlet directly into the upper or inner part of the combustion-chamber. It will be noticed that all of these passages are drilled in a straight line, so that they may be easily and readily formed, and it will also be noticed that the nipple is arranged cent-rally of the combustion-chamber between the two ends of the U-shaped tube D. A tube Gis arranged between the legs of the Ufshaped tube F, to which it is fastened by any suitable means. This tube is open at both ends and extends inward nearly to the nipple F. It is also provided with perforations g, scattered irregularly over its surface. At the lower or outer end of the tube G the small tube D is bent upward or inward, and then around the end of the tube, so that it half incloses the latter by a semicircular bend d2, which is at right angles to the main direction of the tube, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

The lower or outer end of the body C is provided with an internal thread, and the soldering-tip I-I is secu red to this end of the body by a thread on its inner end or base, which is reduced for the purpose of fitting into thesection c, as seen in Fig. 2. This tip H is of the nsualtapering form; but the base is hollow for a certain distance, it being drilled out or recessed to provide a large central opening h, communicating with the lower or comb-ustion chamber and extending outward toward the apex of the tip. Passages 7L extend inward from the outside of the base of the tip and communicate with the small chamber h in the base. These passages are bored inward from the exterior of the tip-base, being inclined outward as they extend inward, as seen in Fig. 2, and preferably the chamber 7L is contracted or tapering outwardly. Preferably a wick of suitable size is provided for the fuelreservoir, which is of suitable dimensions to extend through the entire tube a and neck c of the body, so that the liquid fuel will be fed to the passage. leading out from said neck whatever may be the position of the tool, and

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an asbestus wick runs through the small tube D and the passages d d.

In working this tool the reservoir is first filled with the iiuid through the opening in the cap B, and the regulating-screw E is turned to open communication between the small tube D and the nipple F. The gasoline or other liquid will obviously finally reach the nipple. A little of the liquid is permitted to drop from the nipple into the chamber hin the tip; or it may be introduced to the same through the side opening h. This liquid is set on fire, and the heat therefrom in the combustion-chamber above soon raises the temperature of the small tube D, so as to convert the liquid therein into vapor or gas, and the latter escapes from the nipple, being driven into the perforated pipe G, which of course becomes highly heated, and the vapor or partially-vaporized liquid passing into it is completely vaporized or converted into gas,

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and, mingling with the air drawn in through Y the apertures c3 and the slots c4, is thoroughly consumed in this chamber, and the flame being driven by the draft down into the tip the latter will be heated as may be required. Of course the burning of the gas in the combustion-chamber keeps up the heat therein to vaporize the liquid as it passes through the small tube D and out through the nipple, so that the operation is constant. At the same time the supply of vapor is perfectly regulated and controlled by means of the screw E, which also provides for shutting it off entirely at anymoment desired.

Changes may be made in some details of constructiomas herein shown and described, without disturbing the general organization of the device, whereby we obtain a simple, compact, and convenient tool adapted for use in any locality or position required.

Ha ving thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a self-heating soldering-iron, the handle A,y forming itself the main reservoir for the oil, in combination with the hollow single piece C, constructed with a thick crosspartition about midway of its length and connected at its open tubular end directly with the open inner or lower end of the hollow reservoir-handle and having an opening through the central partition into the tubular space IIO said U-shaped tube, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

. CHARLES LEHMANN.

EDWARD BRUNHOFF.

Vitnesses as to the signature of Charles Lehmann:

OsWALD OLIVER, H. A. BLIESE. Vtnesses as to the signature of Edward Brunhoff:

GUsTAV DETLERSEN, H. HACKMEITH. 

